Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Oh, My! Oman!

An unusually powerful cyclone has begun battering the coast of Oman with winds of 160mph (260 km/h) and large waves.* * *The most powerful part of the storm was expected to hit Oman on Thursday, before moving north across the Gulf to Iran.

Reports say Cyclone Gonu is expected to be the strongest to hit the Arabian Peninsula since records started in 1945.

While crossing the Indian Ocean on Monday it reached the equivalent of a Category Five hurricane - the highest category available.

A powerful cyclone has hit the coast of Oman, forcing thousands to leave their homes as well as disrupting oil and gas exports.* * *Ahmad al-Harthi, director of the meteorology department, said: "Oman is normally affected by tropical cyclones from time to time, but this is one of the severest since the 1977 storm, bearing in mind we have records going back to 1890."

A weather service official said the cyclone could cause more damage as it was expected to sweep northwards along the heavily populated coast.

The centre of the storm is expected to hit land in southeastern Iran, possibly disrupting shipping through the Gulf.

Lt General Al Maamari said Gonu posed a major threat to low-lying areas as well as population centres along the coast between Ras al Hadd and Ras Madrakah. Masirah’s plains, where two-third of the Island’s roughly 7,000 residents live, are also at risk.

Masirah’s plains, where two-third of the Island’s roughly 7,000 residents live, are also at risk.